Title: Burnt Toast and Weak Coffee
Pairing: Alex Cabot/Olivia Benson
Rating: K+
Author's Note: As you all know, these characters aren't mine. They belong to Dick Wolf and NBC.
Author's Note 2: This story is a collection of stories that are all connected, but could stand alone. It is slightly AU in when and how Olivia becomes Calvin's guardian.
Author's Note 3: This chapter takes place on Mother's Day 2007.
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For the first time since their twins were born, Olivia wakes up to the smell of fresh coffee and burnt toast. Smiling to herself, she pushes away the blankets and clambers out of bed and walks out of the bedroom.
To get to the kitchen, she first passes by Calvin's room and then by the nursery. Calvin's room is dark – nothing unusual about that – but his bed is empty, which is strange for 8:30 on a Sunday morning. The nursery, however, is a stark contrast to Calvin's room. The room is bright with sunlight pouring in through open curtains and the walls are a pale yellow with light blue borders on the top and bottom ("It's gender neutral," Alex had said), whereas Calvin's walls are a darker blue and mostly covered in chalkboard paint.
Olivia peeks into the nurdery and spots Alex sitting in the old leather chair in the corner. Henry is curled up on her chest, one little fist tangled tightly in Alex's hair, while his other fist tightly grips the front of her t-shirt. Lizzie, on the other hand, is sleeping soundly in her crib. Olivia smiles to herself and continues on with her journey.
In the kitchen, Olivia stands in the doorway and watches Calvin flutter about, alternating between making toast and keeping the scrambled eggs from burning. His ability to make food as well as he does at eight years old is equal parts endearing and heartbreaking.
"Alex – no, Mom – said it was okay," Calvin says, keeping his back turned to her.
"It is," Olivia responds. "But you don't have to."
"I want to," he says quickly. "I want to because it's Mother's day and you and Alex – Mom – rescued me." He turns around, eyes brimming with fresh tears, and looks at her. "You rescued me and I love you."
Olivia feels tears well-up in her eyes and as much as she wants to walk across the kitchen and hug him, she doesn't, knowing he has to come to her first.
And he does.
Calvin crosses the room as quick as he can without running and wraps his arms around Olivia's stomach, burying his face in the front of her shirt. "You saved me," he says again, his voice slightly muffled. "I love you."
A few tears finally break loose from Olivia's eyes and make a path down her cheeks. You saved me too. "I love you too, Calvin," she says. "I love you too."
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